Counting accelerometer apparatus

• US 4,016,766 A
• Filed: 11/30/1973
• Issued: 04/12/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: New SD, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Systron Donner Corporation
• Inventors: Morris, Harold D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gill, James J.
• Application Number:
  US05/420,537
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 73/91, 73/489, 73/517, 73/88.5, 235/92 PB, 235/92 PC, 235/92 AE, 235/92 ME, 235/92 MT
• US Class Current: 73/488
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/127 for acceleration values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence

Abstract

Counting apparatus having a transducer for measuring a certain parameter and providing an output, with filtering means for filtering the output from the transducer and decision circuit means connected to the output of the filtering means capable of registering various levels of output from the filtering means and having counting means for counting the various levels of output which have occurred.

Claims

1. In a counting accelerometer, a single means for sensing acceleration for producing an output signal substantially linearly proportional to acceleration, filter means for receiving the output signal and for filtering out spurious information contained in the output signal, a plurality of electronic decision circuits, each of said decision circuits having a pair of inputs and an output, one of the inputs in each of the decision circuits being coupled to the output of the filtering means, a reference for each of said decision circuits connected to the other input of the respective decision circuit, said references having different values, counting means for registering each time each decision circuit makes a determination that the output signal from the single means for sensing acceleration exceeds each reference, and means for causing delayed resetting of each of the decision circuits after the information carried by the decision circuits has been registered in the counting means, said means for causing delayed resetting for each of the decision circuits including means for preventing the resetting of the decision circuit after the output signal of the means for sensing acceleration has reached a value greater than a predetermined reference value until the output signal of the means for sensing acceleration returns to a value less than the predetermined reference value.

2. A counting accelerometer as in claim 1 wherein said means for causing delayed resetting includes means for preventing a count from being registered in the counting means unless said output signal exceeds said predetermined value for a predetermined interval of time.

3. A counting accelerometer as in claim 1 wherein said means for causing delayed resetting of each of the decision circuits includes a reset comparator, and a reference for the reset comparator representing the predetermined reference value of acceleration.

4. A counting accelerometer as in claim 1 wherein each of said decision circuits is capable of supplying an output continuously after it makes a determination that the output signal from the single means for sensing acceleration exceeds the respective reference.

5. A counting accelerometer as in claim 1 wherein said filtering means consists of an active filter having at least two poles.

6. In a counting accelerometer, means for sensing acceleration for producing an output signal substantially linearly proportional to acceleration, an active filter for receiving the output signal and for filtering out spurious information contained in the output signal, a plurality of latching voltage comparators, each of said comparators having two inputs and an output, means connecting one of the inputs of each of the latching voltage comparators to the active filter, a plurality of references representing different values of acceleration, means connecting the references to the latching voltage comparator so that each latching voltage comparator represents a different predetermined acceleration value, a plurality of counters, and means coupling the outputs of the latching voltage comparators to the counters, said last named means including delay means for preventing the outputs from the latching voltage comparators from actuating each of the counters, said delay means including means for preventing actuation of a counter after the predetermined acceleration value has been recorded by the latching voltage comparator coupled to the counter but not before the acceleration being measured by the means for sensing acceleration drops to a value below the predetermined acceleration value.

7. A counting accelerometer as in claim 6 wherein said means for preventing the outputs from the latching voltage comparators from actuating the counters includes a plurality of gates connected between the outputs of the latching voltage comparators and the inputs to the counters, and means for inhibiting the gates.

8. A counting accelerometer as in claim 7 wherein said means for inhibiting the gates includes a reference and a reset comparator having two inputs and an output, one of the inputs being connected to the output of the active filter and the other of the inputs being connected to said reference for the reset comparator, and means connected to the output of the reset comparator to permit the signals from the latching voltage comparators to be supplied to the counters.

9. A counting accelerometer as in claim 8 wherein said means connected to the output of the reset comparator includes a reset time interlock.

10. A counting accelerometer as in claim 8 together with means actuated by the reset comparator for resetting the latching voltage comparators.

11. In a counting apparatus, a single transducer for measuring a predetermined parameter and for producing an output signal substantially linearly proportional to the parameter, filter means for receiving the output signal and for filtering out spurious information contained in the output signal, a plurality of electronic decision circuits, each of said decision circuits having a pair of inputs and an output, one of the inputs of each decision circuit being connected to the output of the filter means, a reference for each of said decision circuits connected to the other input of the respective decision circuit, said references having different values selected between a highest and a lowest value, counting means, electronic gate means for coupling the outputs of said decision circuits to said counting means, electronic means for enabling said gate means at a time after an output is present on at least one of the outputs of one of the decision circuits whereby said counting means registers when the decision circuits make determinations that the output signal from the transducer reaches the respective reference values, and electronic means for resetting the decision circuits after the information provided by the outputs of the decision circuits has been registered in the counting means.

12. A counting apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said transducer is a servo accelerometer.

13. A counting apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said transducer is a stress transducer.

14. A counting apparatus a single transducer for measuring a predetermined parameter and for producing an output signal substantially linearly proportional to the parameter, filter means for receiving the output signal and for filtering out spurious information contained in the output signal, a plurality of electronic decision circuits, each of said decision circuits having a pair of inputs and an output, one of the inputs of each decision circuit being connected to the output of the filter means, a reference for each of said decision circuits connected to the other input of the respective decision circuit, said references having different values selected between a highest and a lowest value, counting means responsive to the outputs of said decision circuits for registering each time each decision circuit makes a determination that the output signal from the transducer reaches the respective reference value, means for resetting the decision circuits after the output information provided by the decision circuits has been registered in the counting means and means for preventing a count from being registered in the counting means unless the output of said single transducer has at least maintained said lowest reference value for a predetermined interval of time.

15. An accelerometer for counting the number of times each of a plurality of acceleration loadings of predetermined magnitude of an aircraft occur, comprising means adapted to be mounted on an aircraft for sensing acceleration loadings on said aircraft and providing acceleration signals proportional to said acceleration loadings, a plurality of sensing and storing means, each responsive to an acceleration signal reaching a different predetermined value for sensing such signal and storing an indication thereof, a plurality of acceleration level recording means, means responsive to an acceleration signal reaching a reference level and providing a reference output, and means responsive to said reference output for passing a count signal from each of said sensing and storing means in which an indication is stored to the associated acceleration level recording means at a time after said reference output is provided, said means for passing a count signal including electronic gate means and means for enabling said electronic gate means.

16. An accelerometer for counting the number of times each of a plurality of acceleration maneuvering loadings of predetermined magnitude of an aircraft occur, comprising means adapted to be mounted to an aircraft for sensing acceleration loading thereof and providing a signal proportional to said accelerations, a plurality of sensing and storing means each responsive to said acceleration proportional signal reaching a different predetermined value for sensing such signal and storing an indication of the value reached, a plurality of acceleration level recording means, timing means for furnishing a signal having a predetermined time duration period, means responsive to said acceleration proportional signal decreasing below a predetermined level for actuating said timing means, means responsive to said signal from said timing means for passing a signal from each of said sensing and storing means to an associated one of said recording means.

17. An accelerometer as in claim 16 together with means responsive to the end of said signal from said timing means for resetting said pluralty of sensing and storage means.

18. A counting accelerometer comprising a single transducer for sensing a range of acceleration and for providing an output indicative of acceleration level, a plurality of electronic decision circuits, means for providing a plurality of reference acceleration level signals, means coupling said output indicative of acceleration level and one of said plurality of reference acceleration level signals to each of said decision circuits, said decision circuits operating to provide an output when said output indicative of acceleration level reaches said respective reference acceleration level, and means for providing a record of the number of times said output indicative of acceleration level output reaches each of said reference acceleration signal levels, said last named means including a plurality of counting means, electronic gate means for coupling the outputs of the decision circuits to the plurality of counting means and electronic means for enabling said electronic gate means at a time after an output is present on at least one of the outputs of one of the decision circuits.

19. A counting accelerometer as in claim 18 together with electronic means for resetting the decision circuits after the information provided by the outputs of the decision circuits has been registered in the counting means.

20. A counting accelerometer comprising a single transducer for sensing a range of acceleration and for providing an output indicative of acceleration level, a plurality of electronic decision circuits, means for providing a plurality of reference acceleration level signals, means coupling said output indicative of acceleration level and one of said plurality of reference acceleration level signals to each of said decision circuits, said decision circuits operating to provide an output when said output indicative of acceleration level reaches said respective reference acceleration level, a plurality of counting means for providing a record of the number of times said output indicative of acceleration level output reaches each of said reference acceleration signal levels, a reset decision circuit for providing a reference output when said output indicative of acceleration level reaches a predetermined lower reference level and thereafter falls below said lower reference level, timing means actuated by said reference output and providing a count output at the end of a predetermined period of time after actuation, a plurality of gates for receiving said decision circuit outputs and said count output and providing gate outputs responsive thereto and means coupling said gate outputs to said counting means

21. A counting accelerometer as in claim 20 wherein said count output has a predetermined dwell time together with means actuated by the end of said count output for resetting said decision circuits.

22. A counting accelerometer comprising a single transducer for sensing a range of acceleration and for providing an output indicative of acceleration level, a plurality of electronic decision circuits, means for providing a plurality of reference acceleration level signals, means coupling said output indicative of acceleration level and one of said plurality of reference acceleration level signals to each of said decision circuits, said decision circuits operating to provide an output when said output indicative of acceleration level reaches said respective reference acceleration level, a plurality of counting means for providing a record of the number of times said output indicative of acceleration level output reaches each of said reference acceleration signal levels, a reset decision circuit for providing a reference output when said output indicative of acceleration level reaches a lower reference level, timing means actuated by said reference output for timing a predetermined period and for providing a terminating output indicative of the end of said period, a first gate for receiving said terminating output and for passing a count signal after said reference output has existed for as least as long as said predetermined period, and a plurality of second gates for coupling the outputs of the decision circuits to the counting means for providing gate outputs to said counting means when said count signal and said decision circuit outputs are present at the second gate.

23. A counting accelerometer as in claim 22 wherein said reset decision circuit provides an additional reference output when said reference output terminates, together with additional timing means actuated by said reference output termination for providing said count signal.

24. In a counting accelerometer, a single means for sensing acceleration and for producing an output signal substantially linearly proportional to acceleration, a plurality of electronic decision circuits, each of said decision circuits having a pair of inputs and an output, one of the inputs being coupled to receive the output signal proportional to acceleration, a reference for each of said decision circuits connected to the other input of the respective decision circuit, said references having different values, said decision circuits providing a determination when the output signal is equal to said reference, counting means for registering and accumulating each time each decision circuit makes a determination that the output signal from the single means for sensing acceleration exceeds each reference, electronic gate means for coupling the determinations of the decision circuits to the counting means, electronic means or enabling said electronic gate means at a time after a determination is made by at least one of said decision circuits, and means for causing resetting of each of the decision circuits after the information carried by the decision circuits has been registered in the counting means.

25. A counting accelerometer as in claim 24 wherein each of said decision circuits is capable of supplying an output continuously after it makes a determination that the output signal from the single means for sensing acceleration exceeds the respective reference.

26. A counting accelerometer a single means for sensing acceleration and for producing an output signal substantially linearly proportional to acceleration, a plurality of electronic decision circuits, each of said decision circuits having a pair of inputs and an output, one of the inputs being coupled to receive the output signal proportional to acceleration, a reference for each of said decision circuits, connected to the other input of the respective decision circuit, said references having different values, said decision circuits providing a determination of when the output signal is equal to said reference, counting means for registering and accumulating each time each decision circuit makes a determination that the output signal from the single means for sensing acceleration exceeds each reference, and means for causing resetting of each of the decision circuits after the information carried by the decision circuits has been registered in the counting means, said means for causing resetting including means for preventing a count from being registered in the counting means unless said output signal exceeds said predetermined value for a predetermined interval of time.

27. A counting accelerometer a single means for sensing acceleration and for producing an output signal substantially linearly proportional to acceleration, a plurality of electronic decision circuits, each of said decision circuits having a pair of inputs and an output, one of the inputs being coupled to receive the output signal proportional to acceleration, a reference for each of said decision circuits connected to the other input of the respective decision circuit, said references having different values, said decision circuits providing a determination when the output signal is equal to said reference, counting means for registering and accumulating each time each decision circuit makes a determination that the output signal from the single means for sensing acceleration exceeds each reference, and means for causing resetting of each of the decision circuits after the information carried by the decision circuits has been registered in the counting means, said means for causing resetting of each of the decision circuits including a reset comparator, a reference for the reset comparator representing a predetermined reference value of acceleration, said reference comparator providing an output signal when acceleration first exceeds and then decreases through said predetermined reference value, and means coupled to the output of said reset comparator for providing a reset signal connected to said decision circuits.